OK, so Green Bay’s gone. New Orleans, too. The Pittsburgh Steelers, throw them in as well.

The last three Super Bowl champions all have fallen by the wayside in this postseason.

Really, though, this should come as no surprise. Repeating is almost impossible in the NFL, so when the Packers went 15-1 a year after their Super Bowl win, should they have been considered the favorite?

The last repeat champion was the New England Patriots (2003-04 and 2004-05) and the Pats are still a No. 1 seed trying to return to the Super Bowl.

They lost to the New York Giants in 2007-08 as the Perfect Patriots — 16-0 during the regular season and two more wins in the playoffs — before Eli Manning led New York on the game-winning drive late in the game.

Could that be the prime matchup? I think most people would love to see that. That would be a game with a lot of drama and a lot of the players still with ties to the game.

Or how about Harbaugh vs. Harbaugh, which would pit Baltimore coach John Harbaugh against his brother Jim, the first-year coach of the San Francisco 49ers. Think about a postgame handshake?

San Francisco vs. the Giants? An interesting West Coast vs. East Coast angle and two strong defenses. Not a lot of pizazz, but a definite hard-hitting game.

How about the Giants against Baltimore, a rematch from Super Bowl XXXV back in 2001?

Other than the Ravens’ Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, not many holdovers from that game. Unless Tiki Barber unretires and coach Tom Coughlin says yes.

There’s a lot of interesting matchups, but first things first. Who will make it through this weekend’s conference championships?

Baltimore at New England — While New England gives up chunks of yards through the air, I think Tom Brady will still exceed Joe Flacco’s production. Baltimore’s defense will force Brady to throw quickly, which benefits receiver Wes Welker and tight end Rob Gronkowski.Ravens running back Ray Rice will need to be productive early. If Baltimore falls behind early, Flacco’s arm will have to bring them back. I can’t see that.

New England 30, Baltimore 23.New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers — Never had either of these teams pegged for this game, but the Giants are the hot hand right now. Eli Manning has proved himself this year as one of the league’s top quarterbacks and the four-game losing streak from November into early December seems like a distant memory.I don’t think the Giants will roll up yards on the 49ers defense, but the Giants defense will come up huge. Alex Smith of the 49ers still doesn’t impress me.

New York 23, San Francisco 17.Super Bowl — I have this feeling about the Giants, but I also feel Brady will find a way.

New England 31, New York 23.Then again, I thought the Saints were going to win it all, so...Sam Tallarico is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.